PREVIEWING Spain vs. France Euro 2024 👀 'MBAPPE HASN'T BEEN GOOD ENOUGH' - Steve McManaman | ESPN FC

On ESPN FC, Julien Laurens, Steve Nicol and Steve McManaman join Kay Murray to discuss what they'd like to see from Kylian Mbappe ahead of France's matchup with Spain in the UEFA EURO 2024 semifinals.

[jasonk]

Amazing how they say Griezmann owes his career to Deschamps. France is trophyless without Griezmann the last 10 years. Griezmann saved all of France in 2016 and Didier would not even be coach without him.

[mamadousy]

If Justice is served Spain win this Euros BY farrrr the best team
But I am afraid football doesnt work like that

[knandez__]

If Griezmann doesn't start... France could kiss their chances goodbye. His understanding of the game, workrate and technical abilities is needed for France. That team is unlucky when Griezmann is not playing, they need to believe in him he's 33 and carried this France team for a long time.

[SELF_]

"Spaniords are quite tired" cmon man, they acting like the spaniords dont have a plan lol

[koffatallawford]

Dembele is going to be the different maker. He played against pretty much all of the Spain players at his times at Barcelona and played with some of them. It is like what he did against Barcelona

[xtshkzx]

I think De La Fuente must consider playing Nacho at right back, with Vivian next to Laporte. I’m just not sure how Navas would fare against Mbappe

[tobaepebinuade]

Spain vs France tomorrow in the semifinals of the EUROs, 2 teams that’ve had opposite tournaments up to this point and one of them can make it to the final. A lot of people are backing Spain to win this game and that’s because they’ve been the best team of the tournament as they’ve been absolutely dominant they’re on fire they have gotten results with ease and the football they’ve been playing has been breathtaking. Right now, they’re seen as the favorites to win the EURO because despite being drawn in a very challenging group, they’ve managed to win all of their games without conceding a goal and after easing Georgia beating them 4-1 in the RD of 16, they beat Germany 2-1 in extra time proving that against better teams they’re up for the task and are ready for a big test. This has been a team that’s been known for dominating possession and completing 1, 000 passes a game and of course they still have quality midfielders, but what they have in Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams, is something that previous Spanish teams have never had which is 2 direct and exciting wingers on either side of the same team meaning that opposing teams have to try to find a way to keep both of them quiet. I have a feeling that if they score first, they’ll beat France because as great as their defense is, they have been lucky at times and they don’t know how to score an actual goal and on paper, they should be able to beat them tomorrow.

It’s really amazing to me how France have managed to make it to the semifinals without scoring a single goal from open play and they’re on the brink of reaching another final in a major tournament. As much as people like to talk about their lack of goals, they haven’t conceded a goal from open play meaning that they’re defending well and in football attack wins you games, defense wins you titles. Their solidarity at the back has made up for them not scoring enough goals in attack and I wonder how sustainable this will be especially if they go behind 1-0 against Spain who are the much better team than them right now. As we’ve seen with them in the past, there have been times where they manage to still win games without even being the better team because assuming that France gets it right and they continue to defend well as a unit they’re capable of knocking them out if everyone shows up. This is a team who regardless of how they play, you don’t want to count them out I mean just a team that has made it to 3 finals in the last 4 major tournaments you have to still take them seriously because either their luck could run out or they produce another defensive masterclass. Spain have been playing the much better football and they’ve been more convincing than France, but part of major tournaments no matter how boring a team plays is being able to grind out results and then move on to the next game because what if a penalty and an own goal is enough for them to win tomorrow meaning they have a chance to win the EUROs without a goal from open play as own goals is their top scorer.

[Joswag]

It’ll depend if Deschamps starts Camavinga
That trio of Cama Tchoua and Kante can control a game

[eL--RaL]

Lamine and Nico about to show Mbappe who the real NEXT BIG THINGS are 💙❤️🔥🇪🇦

[Jukuuuuu]

The real concern is if somehow Rabiot gets inserted back into the starting lineup after the game Camavinga had last game

[skywriter]

Never seen another team so disinterested in scoring goals!!!

[Jesusisyhvh]

Robbie is a Spain hater. He is almost gone against them every game.

[quentincrisp]

Looking at the names on the French roster I saw only one French name! 😂

[rafayetrasti]

Fun fact.. Mbappe has the 2nd most shots on goal in the entire tournament thus far.. Yes he hasn't scored but .. given his condition for him to still look this threatening.. I don't think he's been "underperforming" tbh.

[Valendrizzle]

This may end like the semi-finals France vs Germany in 2016... just a nasty snatch by France.

[Noirlore]

Why was mbappe given the captain armband over like griezmann

[goldg]

This what I miss in TV, football analysis, nothing less.

[eugenezihuramye]

Oii I'm not gonna lie Ousmane Dembele is absolute filth when it comes to dribbling but his finishing and final decision is woeful. Which is why i think after this tournament Olise will come to the fold, ESPECIALLY with his move to Bayern. Given he has both dribbling ability and a decent left foot.

[tymkoc]

Spain have been the best team in this tournament. They've played every match to win, to outscore the opposition and hold them at 0 in their own end. Kind of sad they beat Germany to get here because I feel Deutschland match up better against France than the Spanish do. Heart says Spain but brain says France. Problem is that RB position, without Carvajal and if Mbappe wakes up that equals trouble for Espana. Hopefully they will score in the other end to offset that. So yes, I predict a high scoring (for the level of this tournament) 2-1 and no pens in this one. Just got thatt feeling it's England vs France repeat is once again coming up, in a final this time.

[ethancoster]

Unfortunately the rest of their attack has been equally blunt and lackluster. It's not just a Mbappe problem.